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Six members of a drugs ring have been jailed for a combined 28 years for supplying up to £1.2 million worth of cocaine in the Midlands.

The men were sentenced at Stafford Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Prosecutors alleged the group supplied between £750,000 and £1.2 million worth of cocaine in South Staffordshire between 2014 and 2016.

Sentencing the men, Recorder Michael Elsom said there had been a ‘high degree of criminality.’

Staffordshire Police detectives launched a probe after Scott Jenkinson, the leader of the ring, collapsed from a cocaine overdose in the foyer of a hotel in Rugeley on November 1, 2015.

The court heard a search of Jenkinson's rucksack and personal property at the hotel uncovered cocaine which was 'prepared and bagged ready for street dealing'.

This had a total value of £12,000. Officers also seized 'a significant amount' of cash from the proceeds of drug dealing, scales, a screwdriver and drugs bags.

Within hours police discovered James Colbourne had also been with Jenkinson at the hotel – acting as his assistant in the conspiracy to supply cocaine to the streets of south Staffordshire.

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As the investigation progressed, street dealers within the drugs ring were identified and spotted having clandestine meetings with Jenkinson.

Jenkinson was described as having the leading role in the conspiracy with Robert Kennedy, James Vincent and Nathan Blake as street dealers.

Matthew Falconer was described as a warehouseman paid to store drugs for the group.

The sentences handed down by the recorder were:

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Jenkinson, 32, of Brindley Crescent, Cannock, jailed for seven years

Kennedy, 36, of Boney Hay Road, Burntwood, jailed for four years and six months

Vincent, 30, of no fixed address, jailed for four years and six months

Blake, 31, of Kingsdown Road, Burntwood, jailed for four years and six months

Falconer, 40, of Salters Road, Walsall Wood, jailed for four years and six months

Colbourne, 29, of Mount Street, Hednesford, jailed for three years

Speaking afterwards, Det Insp Lesley Fowler, of Staffordshire Police’s Major and Organised Crime investigations team, said: "The persistence of our officers and the intelligence gathered during this operation has led to these men being put behind bars for a considerable period of time.

"These six men played a significant role in fuelling drug crime in south Staffordshire and their sentences are very much welcomed.”

"I hope this serves as a clear warning to those who think they can commit drug crime in Staffordshire – you will be caught and dealt with.